Fenty Statement Watch

We haven't brought you a new entry lately to our Fenty Statement Watch series, but today's your lucky day. In today's Post, we brought you the story of a coalition of Asian American organizations that is protesting Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's proposal to eliminate the Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs office. Fenty's plan would cut four of the seven jobs in that office and about one-third of the budget, then consolidate it with the Office of Community Affairs. (You can read and sign the coalition's on-line petition here.)

At about 1:27 p.m., we asked the mayor's office: Asian American groups are circulating a petition and meeting with Council staff to oppose the move, saying this move would provide reduced services to a community that is growing in the city and owns many small businesses. Can you provide an explanation from the Mayor about why he made this decision and how he responds to the complaints that it would harm services to the APA community?

Last evening at 6:30 p.m., the mayor's office responded: "The expansion of the Office of Community Affairs will make more resources available for community specific advocacy staff, such as the Offices of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Veteran Affairs, African Affairs, Ex-offender Affairs, the Commission on Women Affairs and the DC Youth Advisory Council."